AMOR  PATRI/rZ 

OUR  ROLL  OF  HONOR 

OR 

POEMS   OF   THE 
REVOLUTION 


JULIA   CLINTON  JONES 

AUTHOR  OF  "VALHALLA,  THE  MYTHS  OF  NORSELAND,"  THK 

"CLEOPATRA"  POEMS,  "STORY  OF  THE  SHIP" 

ETC.,  ETC. 


NEW  YORK 

1894 


COPYRIGHT,  1894 

BY 
JULIA  CLINTON  JONES 


Electrotyped,  Printed  and  Bound  by 

Ube  •Knickerbocker  press,  "Hew 
G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 


DEDICATED   TO 

THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
REVOLUTION 

AND   TO 

MRS.  JANVIER  LE  DUG 

AN   HONORED  OFFICER  OF  THE  NEW   YORK   CITY 
CHAPTER 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

OUR  NATION'S  BIRTH-DAY i 

OUR  ROLL  OF  HONOR II 

A  MEMORABLE  WEDDING-DAY        ...       25 
UNDERNEATH  THE  STARRY  BANNER      .       35 


OUR  NATION'S  BIRTH-DAY 


OUR  NATION'S  BIRTH-DAY. 

DEDICATED   TO   MISS   M.    V.   B.   VANDERPOF.L, 

TREASURER    OF 
THE   NEW    YORK    CITY    CHAPTER. 

ONE  hundred  years  ago 
A  Nation  sprang  to  life 
From  out  the  womb  of  woe, 

Of  battle,  and  of  strife  ; 
A  glorious  labor  gave 

An  infant  giant  birth, 
Whose  limbs  great  oceans  lave, 
Whose  voice  rings  thro'  the  earth. 

Hear  the  bells  with  peal  and  clang 
Echoing  from  shore  to  shore — 

Bells  that  long  ago  so  rang 

When  the  fearful  fight  was  o'er. 

3 


OUR  NATION'S  BIRTH-DAY. 

When  the  joy-morn  broke  at  last 
Freedom  rose  o'er  battle  past, 
And  her  starry  coronet 
On  the  Nation's  forehead  set. 


The  flag  that  waves  so  proudly 

From  every  loyal  roof, 
The  guns  that  peal  so  loudly, — 

Each  fold,  each  peal,  a  proof 
Of  love  and  deep  devotion, 

Our  Country  dear,  to  thee, — 
These  fill  with  strong  emotion 

Our  hearts  that  we  are  free. 


We  are  the  guarders  of  our  land  ; 

We  are  her  breastworks  tried  ; 
Her  ramparts,  towers,  and  forts  shall 
stand 

In  us, — be  this  our  pride  ! 


OUR  NATION'S  BIRTH -DAY. 


And  as  this  century  now  has  brought 

Rich  gifts  that  it  has  won  and  wrought, 

So  let  the  future  cycles  tell 

Of  deeds  that  they  shall  bring  as  well ; 

And  let  our  hands  not  feeble  prove 

To  fashion  forth  this  work  of  love ; 

Thus,  in  our  generation,  we 

As  master-builders  great  shall  be, 

While  every  stone  by  our  hands  set, 

If  not  an  arch  or  minaret, 

Shall  be  a  corner-stone,  and  there 

Our  sons  shall  grander  fanes  uprear. 


Louder,  louder,  peal  ye  forth, 
Cannon  from  the  South  and  North  ! 
Praise  to  God,  and  jubilee 
Thro'  our  land  of  Liberty  ! 
Loud,  and  long,  and  ever  higher, 
As  our  future  hopes  aspire ! 


OUR  NATION'S  BIRTH-DAY.          9 

Foremost  in  the  ranks  of  time 
Stands  our  Country  in  her  prime ; 
Bright  her  constellations  blaze 
In  the  splendor  of  these  days. 
Ne'er  let  her  weary  in  the  race, 
Nor  drop  one  star  from  out  its  place  ; 
And  as  the  centuries  weave  their  woof, 
'Gainst  voice  of  syren  sloth  e'er  proof, 
Still  shall  she  keep  her  station  grand, 
With  Freedom's  banner  in  her  hand. 

Peal  and  swing 

On  joyful  wing ! 
Let  the  waking  Earth 
Hail  our  Nation's  birth  ! 
Hail  the  giant  born  ! 

This  is  the  morn 
Which  yet  shall  lead  to  grander  days ; 

Give  God  the  praise  ! 


OUR  ROLL  OF   HONOR 


OUR  ROLL  OF  HONOR. 

DEDICATED   TO    MRS.    ROGER   A.    PRYOR, 

HONORARY      VICE-PRESIDENT      GENERAL     OF      THE 

NATIONAL   SOCIETY    OF   THE   DAUGHTERS   OF 

THE   AMERICAN   REVOLUTION. 

TYRANT  chiefs  and  robber  barons 
Founded  many  an  ancient  line, 
But  we  boast  a  prouder  lineage 

Sprung  from  hero-blood  divine. 
Let  the  Old  World's  haughty  nobles 

Quartered  arms  on  'scutcheons  wear, 
Won  by  knights  and  bold  crusaders, — 

Far  more  glorious  shields  we  bear, 
Graved  with  deeds  of  pure  devotion, 

Quarterings  there  of  courage  high, 
"  Amor  Patriae  "  our  motto, 

As  it  was  their  battle-cry. 

Patriot  fathers  of  our  Nation, 

Honor  holds  your  mem'ries  dear, 
13 


OUR  ROLL   OF  HONOR.  15 


Plymouth's     sons,     and     Jamestown's 
scions, — 

Puritan,  and  Cavalier ! 
Rich  or  lowly, — one  and  equal, — 

Rank  by  rank,  and  side  by  side, 
Fought  they  in  their  Country's  peril  ; 

Fought  and  conquered  !  fought  and 

died. 
Brilliant  charge,  and  daring  foray, 

Hard-pressed  field,  determined  stand, 
Forced  the  hireling  Hessian  backward, 

Drove  the  Briton  from  our  land. 

What  tho'  need  and  hunger  faced  them, 
With  their   blood    they    earned    the 
price 

Of  our  Freedom, — paid  our  ransom 
With  their  grand  self-sacrifice. 

Never  shall  the  rust  of  ages 

Dim  their  glory,  fade  their  fame, 


OUR  ROLL    OF  HONOR. 


For  upon  her  trump  heroic 

History  sounds  each  deathless  name. 
Let  the  key-note  of  her  paean 

Be  the  guns  of  Bunker  Hill, 
While  thro*  glorious  choral  ending 

Yorktown's  conquered  cannon  thrill. 

But  upon  what  Roll  of  Honor 

Stand  the  deeds  the  women  wrought  ? 

In  what  archives  rest  the  records 
Of  the  battles  that  they  fought  ? 

When  around  the   smouldering  camp- 
fire 

Sentries  paced,  while  on  the  earth 
Soldiers  slept,  worn-out  and  wounded, — 

By  the  distant  cabin-hearth 
Lonely  women  held  their  guard-watch — 
Picket-corps — their   pass-words, 
prayer, — 


OUR  ROLL    OF  HONOR.  IO 

Weaving  home-spun, — moulding  bullets 
By  the  tallow-candles'  flare. 

When  the  echoing  volleys  thundered 

Far  away  o'er  hill  and  dale, 
In  the  gray  dawn,  calm  uprising, 

From  their  midnight  vigils  pale, 
Firmly  bent  they  to  their  duties, 

Crushing  down  their  bitter  pain, 
Seized  the  plough-share  left  in  furrow, 

Sowed  the  seed,  and  ground  the  grain; 
Tended  flocks,  and  combed,  and  carded, 

Then,  at  night  their  shuttles  plied  ; 
Bread  they  brought  the  starving  forces, 

Strength  and  sinew  thus  supplied. 
So,  'mid  drum-beat  and  the  bugle, 

Patriot  music  through  the  gloom 
From     their     hearths'     intrenchments 
sounded, — 

Whirr  of  wheel,  and  fall  of  loom. 


OUR  ROLL   OF  HONOR.  21 

Nor  alone  beside  the  home-step 

Wrought  they  in  their  country's  cause; 
Sought  no  gilded  decoration  ; 

Cared  not  for  the  world's  applause  ! 
Soothing,  cheering,  urging,  aiding. 

Piled  they  fires  of  Freedom  high 
That  throughout  the  land  to  Britain 

Showed  the  foe  the  way  to  fly. 

Noble  dames,  with  souls  unflinching, 

Trusting  in  the  God  of  Might, 
Bearing  warnings  to  the  armies, 

Galloped  in  the  dead  of  night ; 
To  the  front,  'mid  thick  of  danger 

Bore  despatches,  swerving  not, 
Fired  their  homes  to  save  from  pillage, 

Manned  the  guns,  and  sped  the  shot. 

Loyal  women  !  naught  withholding 
Home,  nor  gold,  nor  love,  nor  life  ! 


OUR  ROLL   OF  HONOR.  23 

Naught  of  glory, — naught  but  honor 
Claimed  they  from  that  fearful  strife. 

Grand  reserve-troups  !    there  no  orders, 
There  no  epaulettes  shall  shine, 

Yet  when  patriot  forces  muster, 
They  shall  hold  the  vamvard  line. 

Lo  !  upon  a  Roll  of  Honor 

Great  and  glorious,  shines  each  name, 
In  the  heart  of  this  proud  Nation  ; 

In  the  archives  of  her  fame  ! 

With  the  arms  our  fathers  won  us, 

Graven  on  each  blood-bought  shield 
Are  the  deeds  of  those  brave  women 

Quartered  on  the  blazoned  field. 
Tho'  no  heralds  sing  their  story 

Pure  thro'  love  and  suffering  made, 
They  shall  march  beside  our  heroes 

Step  with  step  at  Grand  Parade. 


A    MEMORABLE   WEDDING-DAY 


A  MEMORABLE  WEDDING-DAY. 

DEDICATED   TO    MRS.    DONALD   McLEAN, 

RECORDING    SECRETARY    OF 
THE    NEW    YORK    CITY    CHAPTER. 

WHILE    the  echoing  Christmas 
anthems 

Mingle  still  with  new-year  chimes, 
Meet  we  now  to  honor,  sisters, 

Memories  of  the  olden  times. 
Sweet  the  fragrance  of  these  roses, — 

Gathered  here  are  women  fair, — 
But  there  breathes  a  wafted  perfume 

Of  magnolias  on  the  air. 
Dimly  seen  thro'  lace-veiled  windows, 

Fancied  peaks  of  Blue  Ridge  rise 
Where  in  vales  of  Old  Virginia 

Ancient  Fairfax  County  lies. 

How  your  faces  fade  before  me  ! 

And  your  tones — how  faint  and  low! 
27 


A   MEMORABLE    WEDDING-DA  Y.      2Q 

While    thro'    mists    of    long-gone    dec 
ades 

Shadowy  figures  come  and  go. 
Softly  'mid  the  throbbing  music 

Ripples  far  Pamunkey's  tide, 
Rolling  by  the  stately  White  House 

Whence  shall  pass  the  lovely  bride. 
Magnates  of  the  Old  Dominion, 

Laced  and  ruffled,  grace  the  scene, — 
Haughty  dames  and  laughing  maidens. 

Youthful  squires  of  gallant  mien  ; 
Rich  brocades  and  flashing  jewels 

Deck  with  pomp  the  bridal  train, 
For  the  Custis  weds  the  hero 

Crowned   with  bays   from    Fort    Du 

Quesne. 
Sisters,  'mid  this  hum  of  voices, 

Hear  that  nuptial  strain  ring  on  ! 
Blessed-  day  that  gave  our  country 

Such  a  Lady  Washington  ! 


A   MEMORABLE    WEDDING-DA  Y.      3 1 


Such  a  matron  !  Such  a  woman  ! 

Childless  she,  yet  thro'  the  land 
Lo  !  we  Daughters,  patriot-sired, 

Claim  her  mother  of  our  band. 
Faithful  wife,  and  noble  lady, 

Brave  and  tender,  just  and  true  ! 
When     the     blast     from      Freedom's 
bugle 

Loudly  Patrick  Henry  blew, 
When  beyond  the  broad  Potomac 

Rang  the  notes  from  hill  to  hill, 
Calmly  sent  she  forth  her  hero, 

Held  her  place  beside  him  still. 
Grandly,  as  tho'  still  dispensing 

Favors  from  the  mansion  down, 
Fearless  graced  she  camp  and  cabin, 

Middlebrook  and  Morristown  ; 
While  the  hand  that  erst  touched  spin- 
net, 

Wafted  fan,  or  turned  the  wheel, 


A    MEMORABLE    WEDDING-DAY.      33 


Still  more  gently  soothed  the  suffering, 
Kindling  fires  of  patriot  zeal. 

So  the  love  that  lit  Mount  Vernon, 

Warmed     and      brightened     Valley 

Forge,— 
Shared  the  danger, — till  our  Eagle 

Plucked  the  laurels  from  St.  George ! 
Till  the  roar  of  Yorktown's  cannon 

Died  in  echoes  from  the  land, 
And  the  nation  called  her  soldier 

In  the  highest  place  to  stand. 

Years  have  rolled  beyond  the  century, — 
All  these  scenes  have  passed  away, 

But  the  Bride  from  Old  Virginia 
In  each  heart  is  here  to-day. 


UNDERNEATH  THE  STARRY 
BANNER 


UNDERNEATH  THE  STARRY 
BANNER. 

DEDICATED    TO    MRS.    BENJAMIN    HARRISON, 
PRESIDENT-GENERAL    OF    THE    NATIONAL    SOCIETY 

OF    THE 
DAUGHTERS    OF    THE    AMERICAN    REVOLUTION. 

UNDERNEATH  the  starry  ban 
ner, 

Daughters !  meet  we  here  to-night, 
With  sweet  strains  of  music  'round  us, 
Scent  of  flowers,  and  blaze  of  light ; 
While  our  hearts  send  loyal  greeting — 

As  we  grasp  each  friendly  hand — 
Unto  her,  our  honored  sister, 
Foremost  lady  of  the  land. 

Thro'  the  swiftly  changing  measures, 
Hark  !  a  martial  symphony  ! 

37 


UNDERNEATH   THE  BANNER.      39 


And  beside  our  glowing  colors — 

Rent  and  stained,  old  banners  see — 
Shadowy  flags  that  once  were  waving 

O'er  our  men  on  field  and  flood, 
Nailed  unto  the  mast  in  battle, 

Steeped  in  streams  of  patriot  blood  : 
Flags  that  waved  when  first  the  cannon 

Thundered  out  at  Bunker  Hill ; 
With  the  Oriflamme's  fair  lilies, 

Proud  at  Yorktown  floated  still ; 
But,  where  shone  the  British  emblem, 

Gleamed  the  stars  of  Liberty, 
And  above  the  baffled  Lion 

Soared  the  Eagle  of  the  free ! 
Strangely,  sisters  !  how  they  mingle, 

Faded  hues  and  colors  gay  ; 
Strangely  are  the  echoes  rolling 

From  the  old  days,  far  away— 
Trumpet-tones  that  roused  our  fathers, 

Shrilling  thro'  that  time  of  gloom, 


UNDERNEATH    THE  BANNER.      41 

Like  the  blast  of  the  Avenger, 

Sounding  forth  oppression's  doom. 

'Mid  the  slowly  sinking  cadence 

Sweeter  voices  softly  float, 
Earnest  prayers  of  steadfast  women 

Breathe  in  each  orchestral  note  :— 
They  who  kept  the  watch-fires  burning, 

Soothed    and  cheered    thro'  all  that 

strife, 
As  at  Valley  Forge  were  hardships 

Lightened  by  that  noble  wife. 
To  the  front  their  loved  ones  urging, 

Shared  they  all  the  bitter  pain, 
Sowed  they  wheat  that  fed  the  armies, 

Spun  the  flax,  and  wove  the  skein. 
Honor  well  that  "  wheel  and  distaff," 

Teaching  how  our  mothers  wrought, 
Spinning   with  the  thread  their  heart 
strings, 


UNDERNEATH   THE  BANNER.      43 


While  our  gallant  fathers  fought. 
Let  us  cherish,  then,  our  emblem, 

Guard     each     life-strand     from     all 

stains, 
We,  the  daughters  of  such  parents, 

Patriot  blood  within  our  veins. 

Grand  reserve  corps  of  the  nation  ! 

Giving  more  than  self  for  right ; 
On  the  God  of  Battles  calling, 

Trusting  all  unto  His  might; 
Armed  with  faith  and  firm  devotion, 

Other  weapons  dared  they  wield 
In  their  need,  as  Jersey's  Molly 

Manned    that    gun    on     Monmouth 

field. 
On  that  stainless  square  of  azure 

Women's  patience,  women's  prayer, 
Holding  up  their  soldiers'  courage, 

Set  the  stars  more  firmly  there : 


UNDERNEATH   THE  BANNER.      45 


Standard-bearers  of  our  freedom, 
They  who  helped  the  flag  to  win, — 

While  the  Union  boasts  her  heroes, 
Well  she  loves  each  heroine. 

Women's  prayers,  and  swords  of  heroes, 

By  their  strength  was  freedom  won. 
Lo  !  beside  our  country's  father, 

Stands  our  Mary  Washington. 
Noble  type  of  female  virtue  ! 

She  who  trained  the  arm  that  saved, — 
Deep  on  history's  living  pages 

Shall  by  love  her  deeds  be  graved. 
Rear,  then,  sisters  !  your  memorial, 

Tho'  she  needs  no  sculptured  fame, 
For  the  heart  of  this  great  people 

Has  enshrined  her  deathless  name. 

Now  the  strains  of  music  quicken, — 
Thrill  as  tho'  from  fife  and  drum  ; 


UNDERNEATH    THE  BANNER,      47 


Thro'  its  swell  resounds  the  trampling 

As  the  victor  legions  come. 
'Mid  the  throngs,  all  gaily  cheering, 

Up  from  Bull's  Head  on  they  ride ; 
With  the  generals  closely  pressing 

By  their  well  loved  leader's  side. 
Clear    the    sky    and    bright    the    sun 
shine, 

Smoke  of  Yorktown  passed  away, — 
So  the  echoes  ring  forever 

Of  Evacuation  Day  ! 

Lo  !  the  anthem  of  our  glory  ! 

Faintly  now  the  grand  chords  fall, 
And  the  phantom  flags  have  faded 

From  our  colors  on  the  wall. 
On  the  heavy  air  still  lingers 

Fragrance  that  the  flowers  have  shed, 
But  a  sweeter  perfume  rises 

From  the  lives  of  noble  dead. 


UNDERNEATH   THE  BANNER.      49 


Lower  now  the  lights  are  burning, 
And  the  band  plays  soft  and  slow. 

Once  again  your  hands  at  parting ! 
Greeting,  sisters  !  ere  we  go. 


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